Cholesteric liquid crystal cell devices and systems

ABSTRACT

Cholesteric liquid crystal cell units are used for reflecting or transmitting incident light responsive to control signals. A cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit has a first cholesteric liquid crystal cell and a second cholesteric liquid crystal cell. The second cholesteric liquid crystal cell respectively reflects or transmit lights from the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell responsive to a control signal when the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell reflects circularly polarized light of one state or transmits the incident light. In one embodiment of the cell unit, a π-phase waveplate element is located between the first and second cholesteric liquid crystal cells. With the cholesteric liquid crystal cell units, devices such as optical switches, and WDM add/drop multiplexers, and optical switch systems with arrays of input and output optical fibers between a switching matrix formed by the cholesteric liquid crystal cell units, may be constructed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/005,980 filed Dec. 5, 2001 which is incorporated by reference inits entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is related to fiberoptic network devicesand systems, and in particular, to cholesteric liquid crystal celldevices and switch systems.

[0003] In fiberoptic networks light signals are used to carryinformation over optical fibers. Different techniques are used tocontrol optical signals from the sender to the receiver. For example,time slots (time division multiplexing) or wavelengths (wavelengthdivision multiplexing) may be used to define communication channels overan optical fiber. To carry out these operations, fiberoptic networks usemany devices and systems of varying complexity. But speed has alwaysbeen a prime objective in network operations. Hence one goal has beenthe creation of all-optical fiberoptic networks. Rather than convertingincoming optical signals to electrical signals which are then processedby the network device or system and then reconverted back to outgoingoptical signals, an all-optical network maintains the communicationsignals as optical signals as they pass through the network devices andsystems. In this manner, the network loses no conversion time.

[0004] One promising technology toward this goal has beenmicroelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches. Though there are manyvariations, the basic operation of a MEMS switch is the direction oflight beams from an array of input optical fibers into an array ofoutput optical fibers by an array of mirrors which selectively directthe incoming light beams to the arrayed ends of the output opticalfibers. The position of each mirror is controlled by the selectiveapplication of deflection voltages. As the name implies, the mirrors inMEMS switches are also very small to provide the theoretical advantagesof higher operational speeds due to the small inertial mass of themirrors, lowered manufacturing costs from semiconductor processingcircuit technology used to manufacture the mirror array with lower unitcosts, and ease of installation and maintenance from the presumed smallsize of the MEMS switch. However, these advantages have not beenrealized thus far. Reliability, a prime concern for all networks, hasreportedly been a problem with MEMS switches. Apparently the mechanicalproperties of these systems, the stress and strain on the mirrors (ortheir supports), add to the complexity of the systems and detract fromtheir reliability.

[0005] To avoid these problems, the present invention utilizescholesteric liquid crystal cells which form network devices and systemswithout the mechanical disadvantages of a MEMS and other optomechanicalsystems. Furthermore, the network devices and systems of the presentinvention retain the advantages of small size described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides for a cholesteric liquid crystalcell unit for receiving incident light. The unit has a first cholestericliquid crystal cell which receives the incident light and which reflectscircularly polarized light of one state of the incident light ortransmits the incident light, responsive to a control signal. The unitalso has a second cholesteric liquid crystal cell arranged with respectto the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell to receive the lighttransmitted by the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell. The secondcholesteric liquid crystal cell is selected to reflect or transmit lightfrom the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell responsive to the controlsignal when the first cholesteric liquid crystal cell reflects thecircularly polarized light of the one state or transmits the incidentlight respectively. In one embodiment of the cell unit, a π-phasewaveplate element is located between the first and second cholestericliquid crystal cells.

[0007] The present invention also provides for an optical switch devicewhich has a first sleeve holding first and second optical fibers fixedin a central longitudinal channel, a first collimating GRIN lensproximate an end face of the first sleeve, a second sleeve holding athird optical fiber in a central longitudinal channel, and a secondcollimating GRIN lens proximate an end face of the second sleeve. Thetwo GRIN lenses face each other with a cholesteric liquid crystal cellunit as described above. The first and second sleeves, the first andsecond GRIN lenses, the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit arearranged and oriented with respect to each other so that light from thefirst optical fiber passes through, and back from, the first collimatingGRIN lens, and the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit into the secondoptical fiber when the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit reflectslight responsive to the control signal, and light from the first opticalfiber passes through the first collimating GRIN lens, the cholestericliquid crystal cell unit, and the second collimating GRIN lens into thethird optical fiber when the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unitstransmits light responsive to the control signal. With the cholestericliquid crystal cell unit reflecting light responsive to a first controlsignal voltage and transmitting light responsive to a second controlsignal voltage, the device can be operated as an attenuator by usingcontrol signal voltages intermediate the first and second control signalvoltages so that the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit proportionallytransmits and reflects light.

[0008] The present invention provides for an WDM add/drop multiplexerdevice which has a first sleeve, a network input optical fiber and anetwork output optical fiber fixed in a first sleeve channel, a firstcollimating GRIN lens proximate the first sleeve, a second sleeve, anadd optical fiber and a drop optical fiber fixed in a second sleevechannel, and a second collimating GRIN lens proximate the second sleeve.The first and second collimating GRIN lenses are directed toward eachother with a wavelength-dependent filter proximate the first collimatingGRIN lens. The wavelength-dependent filter transmits light at selectedwavelengths and reflects light at other wavelengths. A cholestericliquid crystal cell unit lies between the wavelength-dependent filterand the second end face of the second GRIN lens. The first and secondsleeves, the first and second GRIN lenses, the wavelength-dependentfilter, and the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit are arranged andoriented with respect to each other so that light from the network inputoptical fiber at the other wavelengths passes through, and back from,the first collimating GRIN lens and the wavelength-dependent filter intothe network output optical fiber, and so that light from the networkinput optical fiber at the selected wavelengths passes through, and backfrom, the first collimating GRIN lens, the wavelength-dependent filter,and the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit into the network outputoptical fiber when the cholesteric liquid crystal cell units reflectslight responsive to the control signal, and so that light from the firstoptical fiber at the selected wavelengths passes through the firstcollimating GRIN lens, the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit, and thesecond collimating GRIN lens into the drop optical fiber when thecholesteric liquid crystal cell units transmits light responsive to thecontrol signal. Light from the add optical fiber at the selectedwavelengths passes through the second collimating GRIN lens, thecholesteric liquid crystal cell unit, the wavelength-dependent filterand the second collimating GRIN lens into the network output opticalfiber when the cholesteric liquid crystal cell units transmits lightresponsive to the control signal.

[0009] The present invention also provides for an optical switch systemwhich has an array of input optical fibers, an array of first outputoptical fibers, an array of second output optical fibers, and aswitching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units. Each liquidcrystal cell unit reflects or transmits light selectively responsive tocontrol signals and is arranged with respect to the array of inputoptical fibers, the array of first output optical fibers and the arrayof second output optical fibers so that light signals from an inputoptical fiber may be selectively reflected into one of the first outputoptical fibers or transmitted into one of the second output opticalfibers. The array of input optical fibers, the array of first outputoptical fibers and the array of second output optical fibers arearranged in two-dimensional arrays, and the switching matrix ofcholesteric liquid crystal cell units in a three-dimensional array.Alternatively, the optical switch system might have only one array ofoutput fibers so that light signals from an input optical fiber may beselectively reflected (or transmitted) by a liquid crystal cell unitinto one of the output optical fibers and light which is selectivelytransmitted (or reflected) is lost or received by a monitoring opticalfiber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a general diagram of a cholesteric liquid crystal cellunit in accordance with the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2A illustrates the operation of the FIG. 1 cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit with one control signal;

[0012]FIG. 2B illustrates the operation of the FIG. 1 cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit with another control signal;

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates the detailed structure of one embodiment of theFIG. 1 cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit;

[0014]FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of an optical switch devicewith the FIG. 1 cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional end view of the end faces of theferrules of the FIG. 4A optical switch device;

[0016]FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a WDM add/drop multiplexerdevice according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional end view of the end faces of theferrules of the FIG. 5A add/drop multiplexer device;

[0018]FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of a switch system withcholesteric liquid crystal cell units according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0019]FIG. 6B is a diagram of the different cross-sections of theswitching matrix of FIG. 6A switch system;

[0020]FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the arrayed end sections of theoptical fibers of the FIG. 6A switch system;

[0021]FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the arrangement of a portion ofthe arrayed end sections of input and output optical fibers with respectto the FIG. 6A switching matrix;

[0022]FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the FIG. 6A switch system withinput, reflected output and transmitted output fiber arrays;

[0023]FIG. 8A illustrates the connection of two FIG. 6A switch systemsto form a 4×4×4×2 switch system in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0024]FIG. 8B shows the combination of two FIG. 6A switching matrices toform a 4×8 ×4 switch systems with the same functionality as the FIG. 8Aswitch systems, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0025]FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an assembly of the optical fibersfrom an exemplary optical fiber ribbon;

[0026]FIG. 9B is a perspective view of FIG. 9A optical fiber assembliesarranged to form an optical fiber array for a switch system inaccordance with the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 9C is a perspective view of an exemplary switch system withthe FIG. 9B optical fiber arrays; and

[0028]FIG. 9D is a perspective view of an enlarged assembly of opticalfibers from the FIG. 9A optical fiber ribbon assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Liquid crystal cells are commonly used in electronic displays,such as those found in electronic watches or portable computers. Theliquid crystals in such displays are typically nematic or smectic liquidcrystals. In the present invention, the cholesteric liquid crystals areused. These liquid crystal cells act upon light in circularly polarizedstates and it should be understood that any polarized light can beresolved into two circularly polarized component states, i.e.,left-handed and right-handed states. A cholesteric liquid crystal cellstrongly reflects light of one circularly polarized state, say,left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP) light, and transmits light inthe other circularly polarized state, in this example, right-handedcircularly polarized (RHCP) light. With a control signal creating anelectric field of suitable strength and direction, the orientation ofthe cholesteric liquid crystal in the cell can be affected so that lightof any polarization state is transmitted through the cell.

[0030] In accordance with the present invention, cholesteric liquidcrystal cells are assembled into units to create fiberoptic networkdevices and systems, as described below.

Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Cell Unit

[0031]FIG. 1 illustrates the general organization of a cholestericliquid crystal cell unit, which has two cholesteric liquid crystal cells10 and 12, and π-phase waveplate element 11. Each cholesteric liquidcrystal cell 10 and 12 blocks light in one circularly polarized state,LHCP, for example, while transmitting light in the other circularlypolarized state (RHCP). If a sufficiently large voltage is impressedupon a cell, then light in both polarization states is transmittedthrough the cell.

[0032] The π-phase waveplate element 11 is fixed between the two cells10 and 12, and can be formed from a plate of birefringent material, suchas quartz, lithium niobate, calcite or rutile. Alternatively, thewaveplate element 11 can be a third liquid crystal cell with abirefringent liquid crystal, such as nematic or smectic material. Thethickness of the plate or cell thickness is such that the phase of theincident light is retarded by π. In other words, both the solid plateand the liquid crystal cell 11 operate as a π-phase waveplate.

[0033] The operation of the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit isillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B in which the cells 10 and 12 and element11 are separated to illustrate their operations. With no control signalvoltage, i.e., V=0, on the cholesteric liquid crystal cells 10 and 12,the LHCP portion of the light incident upon the first cholesteric liquidcrystal cell 10 is reflected and the RHCP portion is transmitted throughthe cell 10 to the π-phase waveplate element 11. The transmitted lightis “flipped” by the waveplate element 11 to the LHCP state and is thenreflected by the second cholesteric liquid crystal cell 12. The neteffect is that the incident light is reflected by the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit. If the control signal voltage is turned on, i.e.,V=V1, both cholesteric liquid crystal cells 10 and 11 transmit light inboth polarization states. Light incident upon the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit is transmitted through the unit.

[0034]FIG. 3 shows the detailed structure of a liquid crystal cell,including that of a cholesteric liquid crystal cell. The cell has twoglass substrates 14A and 14B which each have outer coatings 13A and 13Bof antireflection material respectively. On the inner surfaces of thesubstrates 14A and 14B are conductive layers 15A and 15B of indium-tinoxide (ITO) and on the ITO layers are respectively aligning layers 16Aand 16B, such as treated polyimide layers, for example. Spacer layer 17separates the layers 13A-16A from the layers 13B-16B to define a cavity18 which is filled with the liquid crystal material. Material, such asthin mylar film and small diameter rods or balls, may be used for thespacer layer 17. The antireflection coatings 13A and 13B ensure thatreflection is controlled by the orientation of the liquid crystal andnot by the reflection off the surfaces of the substrates 14A and 14B.The ITO layers 15A and 15B receive electrical signals and act asconductive plates to create the electric fields to control theorientation of the liquid crystal and operation of the cell. Thepolyimide layers align the liquid crystal in the cavity 18 in theabsence of an electric field.

[0035] In one embodiment of the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit,the π-phase waveplate element 11 can be integrated into a cholestericliquid crystal cell by placing the wavelength plate element 11 betweenthe ITO layer 15B and substrate layer 14B of the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell 10 of the unit. In this case, the element 11 is bestrealized as one or more birefringent coatings upon the substrate layer14B. Alternatively, the waveplate element 11 can be placed between thesubstrate layer 14A and the ITO layer 15A of the second cholestericliquid crystal cell 12 of the unit, or the waveplate element 11 itselfcan substitute for the substrate layer 14B to serve two functions. Thewaveplate element 11 might be a quartz crystal plate about 90 μm thickfor the proper phase delay for optical communication wavelengths. In anycase, the π-phase waveplate element 11 is functionally between the twocholesteric liquid crystal cells as shown in the FIG. 1 arrangement.

[0036] The description above implies that both cholesteric liquidcrystal cells 10 and 12 are the same, i.e., the cells 10 and 12 haveeither the same or different cholesteric liquid crystals with the sameorientation. An alternative embodiment has two liquid crystal cells inwhich the cholesteric liquid crystals in the two cells have oppositeorientations. For example, if the cholesteric liquid crystal in thefirst cell 10 reflects LHCP light (with V=0) and the cholesteric liquidcrystal in the second cell 12 reflects RHCP light, a π-phase waveplateelement 11 is unnecessary. The resulting unit reflects incident lightwhen V=0 and transmits light when V=V1. A left-hand oriented cholestericliquid crystal might be used for the first cell 10 and a right-handoriented cholesteric liquid crystal for the second cell 12. An effectivecholesteric liquid crystal material is formed by doping a nematic liquidcrystal with a chiral dopant to obtain the chiral structure andcorresponding chirality. The cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit has asimpler structure with the elimination of the π-phase waveplate element.

Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Cell Devices

[0037] The described cholesteric liquid crystal cell units allow theassembly of different devices useful in fiberoptic networks.

[0038] An optical switch is illustrated in FIG. 4A. The structure andoperation of the switch is similar to the electromechanical opticalswitch disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,712, which was issued Apr. 21,1998 to J. J. Pan et al. However, the present switch avoids the problemscreated by mechanical operations in the device.

[0039] In the present switch, end sections of two optical fibers 21 and22 are fixed into a central aperture through the longitudinal axis of aglass ferrule 25. Likewise, end sections of two more optical fibers 23and 24 are inserted into a central aperture through the longitudinalaxis of a second glass ferrule 28. The end faces 13 and 14 of theferrules 25 and 28 respectively are slightly angled in close proximityto reciprocally angled end faces of quarter-pitch GRIN lens 26 and 27.End cross-sectional views of the end faces 13 and 14 with the fibers 21and 22, and fibers 23 and 24 in their respective apertures are shown inFIG. 4B. Between the two GRIN lenses 26 and 27 is a cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit 29, as described above, and shown as a single elementfor purposes of simplicity of explanation. The end sections of thefibers 21-24 and the elements 25-29 are enclosed and protected by ahousing 20.

[0040] The ferrules 25 and 28 with the fixed end sections of the opticalfibers 21-24, the GRIN lenses 26 and 27, and the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit 29 are arranged and oriented so that light enteringthe described switch from the optical fiber 21 (22) is either reflectedback to the optical fiber 22 (21) or transmitted to the optical fiber 24(23). Likewise, from the other side of the switch, light from theoptical fiber 23 (24) is either reflected back to the optical fiber 24(23) or transmitted to the optical fiber 22 (21), indicated by arrows inFIG. 4B. Transmission or reflection control is provided by the controlsignal to the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit 29. Besides operationas switch, the disclosed device can operate as an attenuator by varyingthe control signal in an analog fashion between V=0 (no output) and V=V1(full output).

[0041] Another device provided by the present invention is a WDMadd/drop multiplexer, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. In WDM (WavelengthDivision Multiplexing) and DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)fiberoptic networks, optical signals are directed through the network onoptical fibers according to the wavelength of the optical signals.Optical signals of a particular wavelength define a communicationchannel of a network which directs signals to their destinationsaccording to their wavelengths.

[0042] As for the simple switch above, end sections of an add opticalfiber 31 and an drop optical fiber 32, along with dummy fiber endsections 41 and 42 (not shown), are fixed into an enlarged (as comparedto the apertures of the FIG. 4A switch) central aperture through thelongitudinal axis of a glass ferrule 35. Likewise, end sections of aninput optical fiber 33 and an output optical fiber 34 and a fiber loop40 are inserted into a central aperture through the longitudinal axis ofa second glass ferrule 38. The end faces 17 and 18 of the ferrules 35and 38 respectively are slightly angled in close proximity toreciprocally angled end faces of quarter-pitch GRIN lens 36 and 37. Endcross-sectional views of the end faces 17 and 18 with fibers 31, 32 and41, 42, and with fibers 33, 34 and fiber 40 in their respectiveapertures are shown in FIG. 5B. Between the two GRIN lenses 36 and 37 isa cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit and a wavelength-dependent filterdrawn as a single unit 39. The end sections of the fibers 31-34, thefiber loop 40 and remaining elements 35-39 are enclosed and protected bya housing 30.

[0043] The wavelength-dependent filter may be a high-pass, low-pass orbandpass filter depending upon its particular function and may berealized as in the form of a filter plate, or multiple dielectriccoatings on the surface of another element of the WDM add/dropmultiplexer. While in theory the wavelength-dependent filter might beplaced on either side of the liquid crystal cell unit, practice hasshown that the filter should be placed toward the GRIN lens 37.

[0044] Operationally, the WDM add/drop multiplexer is connected to a WDMnetwork by the input and output optical fibers 33 and 34, and to a userby the add and drop optical fibers 31 and 32. The user is assigned awavelength or a slot of wavelengths by which to communicate with thenetwork. Depending upon the location of the user wavelength(s) withrespect to the other wavelengths of the light carried by the network,the wavelength-dependent filter may be a high-pass, low-pass or bandpassfilter. The filter transmits light at the user's wavelength and blocks(reflects) light at other wavelengths. With the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell unit of the unit 39 in the transmission state, light at theuser's wavelength can be received, or dropped, from the network. Lightat that wavelength is transmitted from the input fiber 33 through thefilter and cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit to the drop opticalfiber 32. Light from the input fiber 33 at other wavelengths isreflected by the filter through the fiber loop 40 back to the filteragain, where the light is reflected into the output fiber 34. In theopposite direction, light at that wavelength can be sent, or added, bythe user to the network. Light at the user's wavelength is transmittedfrom the add fiber 31 through the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unitand filter 39 to the output optical fiber 34.

[0045] When the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit is nottransmitting, light from the input fiber 33 at all wavelengths isreflected by the filter and the cholesteric liquid crystal cell unitthrough the fiber loop 40 back to the filter 40 and liquid crystal cellunit again, where the light is reflected into the output fiber 34. Inthe opposite direction, light from the add fiber 31 is reflected back tothe drop fiber 32. The network is isolated from the user.

[0046] It should be noted that the wavelength-dependent filter and thefiber loop 40 provide a double filtering function to better define thewavelength dropped to the user from the network when the cholestericliquid crystal cell unit is transmitting. If double filtering is noterequired, a wavelength-dependent filter could be added to the opticalswitch of FIG. 4A. In such a case, the optical fibers 23 and 24 becomethe network input and output fibers and the optical fibers 21 and 22become the user add and drop optical fibers, respectively.

Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Cell Switch Systems

[0047] In accordance with the present invention, highly compact switchsystems may be constructed with the cholesteric liquid crystal cellunits. FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary switchsystem with cholesteric liquid crystal cell units according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. The switch system has a switchingmatrix 50 with cholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55, an input fiberarray 51 and a reflected output fiber array 52. (A second transmittedoutput fiber array is not shown for simplification purposes but is shownin FIG. 7C.) The input fiber array 51 is formed by 16 input fibers 57arranged in a 4×4 square array. At the end of each fiber 51 is fixed acollimating quarter-pitch GRIN lens 53. Likewise, the output fiber array52 is formed by 16 output fibers 58 arranged in a 4×4 square array andat the end of each output fiber 58 is a collimating quarter-pitch GRINlens 54. While the switch system might work with other types of opticalfibers, all of the optical fibers described herein should be consideredas single mode fibers for optimal operation. This description alsorefers to the optical fibers described above for the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell devices.

[0048] The input fiber array 51 and output fiber array 52 are arrangedat 90° to each other, each array facing the switching matrix 50 whichhas cholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55 fixed in mounting plates61-67. Parallel plates 61-67 holds 64 cholesteric liquid crystal cellunits 55 in 4×4×4 cubic array. Though shown as single plates, it shouldbe understood that each of plates 61-67 represent a plurality ofsubstrates, coatings and layers, as explained with respect to FIG. 3.The plates 61 and 67 hold four cell units 55 in a 1×4 linear array;plates 62 and 66 hold eight cell units 55 in a 2×4 array; plates 63 and65 hold twelve cell units 55 in a 3×4 array; and plate 64 holds sixteencell units 55 in a 4×4 array. The plates 61-67 are arranged so thattheir surfaces are at 45° to the alignment of the arrayed input opticalfibers 57 and output optical fibers 58. The cholesteric liquid crystalcell units 55 are located so that any light from an input optical fiber57 which is reflected by a unit 55 is directed to an output opticalfiber 58. Joined together in the switching matrix 50, the cholestericliquid crystal cell units 55 form four 4×4 switch arrays.

[0049] Each switch array is aligned parallel to the X-Y plane defined bythe reference axes 60 and is formed in different X-Y planarcross-sections of the switching matrix of FIG. 6A switch system. Eachswitch array 71-74 has 16 cholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55arranged in a 4×4 array. Each row (with reference to FIG. 6B) ofcholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55 is aligned with an inputoptical fiber. As shown in FIG. 6A, the switch array 71 has inputoptical fibers I₁₁-I₁₄ and reflected output optical fibers O₁₁-O₁₄.Similarly, the switch array 72 has input optical fibers I₂₁-I₂₄ andreflected output optical fibers O₂₁-O₂₄; the switch array 73 has inputoptical fibers I₃₁-I₃₄ and reflected output optical fibers O₃₁-O₃₄. Theswitch array 74 has input optical fibers I₄₁-I₄₄ and reflected outputoptical fibers O₄₁-O₄₄. Most of these reference numerals are not shownin FIG. 6A to avoid unnecessarily complicating the drawing, but theinputs and reflected outputs are shown in the switch arrays 71-74 inFIG. 6B.

[0050]FIG. 6B also shows that each of the switch arrays 71-74 is formedby portions of the mounting plates 61-67 and the cholesteric liquidcrystal cell units 55 in the plates. FIG. 6B better illustrates that themounting plates 61-67 are constructed by a plurality of substrates,coatings, and layers which define the cholesteric liquid crystal cellunits 55. The conductive ITO layers for each cholesteric liquid crystalcell are defined in each of the plates 61-67 to provide separateconductive leads for each cholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55.Attached to the conductive leads, a control unit (not shown) providesthe signals to selectively turn the cholesteric liquid crystal cellunits 55 in the switch matrix 50 into reflecting or transmitting statesto operate the switch system. Furthermore, the mounting plates 61-67 areseparated by separation plates 81-86 with the dimensions of the mountingplates 61-67 and separation plates 81-86 so that the switching matrix 50form a cube.

[0051] The input, reflected output and transmitted output fiber arraysinclude mounting blocks to align the fiber end sections and GRIN lensesof the fiber arrays. As shown in FIG. 7A, mounting blocks 68A and 68Bhold a linear array of optical fibers, in this example, fibers 57 fromthe input fiber array 51. The mounting block 68A has V-grooves 69A inthe block's bottom surface and the mounting block 68B has matchingV-grooves 69B in that block's top surface. When the two blocks 68A and68B are placed together, the grooves 69A and 69B form slots 69 throughthe combined blocks in which the uncoated end sections of the opticalfibers 57 and the attached GRIN lenses 53 are inserted. The slots 69 aredimensioned to hold the end sections of the optical fibers 57 and theattached GRIN lenses 53 snugly. It should be noted that if the mountingblocks 68A and 68B formed from crystalline material, the V-grooves maybe formed with semiconductor processing technology where precise etchingtechniques have long been practiced.

[0052]FIG. 7B illustrates the arrangement of a portion of the arrayedend sections of input and output optical fibers with respect to thecholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55 of the switching matrix. Inthis example, the FIG. 7A mounting blocks 68A and 68B with the lineararray of input optical fibers 51 are shown with the mounting plate 61with four cholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55 and mounting blocks78A and 78B holding a linear array of optical fibers 58 from thereflected output fiber array 52. As described above, the mounting block78A has V-grooves 79A in the block's bottom surface and the mountingblock 78B has matching V-grooves 79B in that block's top surface. Theresulting slots from the grooves 79A and 79B in the combined blocks holdthe end sections of the optical fibers 58 and the attached GRIN lenses54.

[0053]FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the FIG. 6A switch system withthe input fiber array 51, the reflected output fiber array 52 and thetransmitted output fiber array 59. Mounting blocks as described above ineach of the fiber arrays 51, 52 and 59 are stacked and fixed togetheraround the switching matrix 50 by corner blocks 80.

[0054] Hence the present invention provides for a switch system which ishighly compact and may be expanded or reorganized in many differentways. If two 4×4×4 switch systems 100 and 101 are connected together, asillustrated in FIG. 8A, the combined switching systems operate as a4×4×4×2 switching system. The input fiber array of the switch system 101is connected to the transmitted output fiber array of the switch system100. The modularity and advantages of the described switch system areevident. Alternatively, rather connecting two switch systems, twoswitching matrices 50A and 50B can be joined as illustrated in FIG. 8B.A 4 ×8×4 switching system is created. It should be noted that the switchsystems described thus far are organized as four separate switchsystems, either 4×4 or 4×8 (aligned side-by-side along the Z-axis ofFIG. 6A). For a switch system in which the four switch systems areinterconnected, the 4×4 switch systems, or the switching matrices, canbe rotated 90° with each other. The present invention offers theopportunities to create switching systems of different sizes anddifferent combinations.

[0055] The optical fibers of the various fiber arrays are describedpreviously as separate elements, but manufacturers also offer opticalfibers arranged in flat ribbons by joining the protective coatingsaround the core and cladding of individual fibers. FIGS. 9A and 9B showhow optical fiber ribbons can be incorporated into the switch systems ofthe present invention. An exemplary fiber ribbon 91 formed by individualfibers 87 whose uncoated end sections are placed between V-grooves 89Aon the lower surface of a mounting plate 88A with and matching V-grooves89B on the upper surface of a mounting plate 88B. The V-grooves areplaced very close to each other to match the placement of the fibers 87in the fiber ribbon 91. When fixed together, the plates 88A and 88Bcreate a snug fit for the end sections of the optical fibers 87 whoseends are polished flush with the end surfaces of the plates 88A and 88B.To collimate (or focus) the light from the fibers 87 (or into the fibers87), microlenses 93 are placed in front of the ends of the fibers 87 bya lens mounting plate 96 with a plurality of apertures 95, each holdinga microlens 93. The lens mounting plate 96 is fixed against the ends ofthe mounting plates 88A and 88B with a microlens 93 in close proximityto the end of each optical fiber 87.

[0056]FIG. 9B shows how the combined mounting plates 88A and 88B arethemselves combined to form an optical fiber array for a switch systemaccording to the present invention. In this example, four sets ofmounting plates 88A and 88B hold four fiber ribbons 91 and four lensmounting plates 96 hold the collimating (and focusing) microlenses forthe optical fibers. With optical fibers arranged in fiber ribbons,optical fiber arrays for the switch systems can be easily enlarged. Inthe FIG. 9B example, 32 (4×8) optical fibers are assembled into anoptical fiber array; FIG. 9C illustrates a switch system with fiberribbons creating optical fiber arrays of 64 (4×16) optical fibers. Thesame reference numerals are used previously; the number of opticalfibers in each fiber ribbon 91 is doubled. Of course, the number ofcholesteric liquid crystal cell units 55 in the switching matrix 50 isalso doubled (in the Z-axis direction).

[0057] Besides increasing the number of fibers in a fiber ribbon 91 asillustrated in FIG. 9C, the modular nature of the optical fiber arraysof FIGS. 9A and 9B allow the number of optical fibers to be increased inan optical fiber array easily. In this example shown in FIG. 9D, fourassemblies of optical fiber ribbons 91A-91D are fixed side-by-side on asubstrate 90. An upper plate 98A and lower plate 98B with matchingV-grooves hold the coated portions. Besides the V-grooved mountingplates holding the uncoated end sections of the fibers described above,the coated portions of the fibers in the ribbons 91A-9D are furthersupported with V-grooved upper and lower plates 98A and 98B. The lowerplate 98B is fixed to the substrate 90. In this manner, 32 opticalfibers are arrayed linearly. If stacked with three other such arrays, anoptical fiber array of 128 (32×4) optical fibers is created.

[0058] Hence the present invention offers many advantages. Reliance uponmechanical systems is avoided and the cholesteric liquid crystal celldevices and systems are highly compact. This is readily evident for theoptical switch system in which the switching matrix is condensed into athree-dimensional array of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units. Theswitch system can be flexibly combined and integrated into manydifferent combinations.

[0059] Therefore, while the description above provides a full andcomplete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, various modifications, alternate constructions, andequivalents will be obvious to those with skill in the art. Thus, thescope of the present invention is limited solely by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

1-18. (cancelled)
 19. An optical switch system comprising an array of input optical fibers; an array of first output optical fibers; and a switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units, each liquid crystal cell unit reflecting or transmitting light selectively responsive to control signals and arranged with respect to said array of input optical fibers and said array of first output optical fibers so that light signals from an input optical fiber may be selectively reflected or transmitted by said liquid crystal cell unit into one of said first output optical fibers.
 20. The optical switch system of claim 19 wherein said array of input optical fibers and said array of first output optical fibers comprise two-dimensional arrays, and said switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units comprises a three-dimensional array.
 21. The optical switch system of claim 19 further comprising an array of second output optical fibers, said array of second output optical fibers arranged with respect to said array of input optical fibers, said array of first output optical fibers and said switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units so that light signals from an input optical fiber may be selectively transmitted or reflected by an liquid crystal cell unit into one of said second output optical fibers.
 22. The optical switch system of claim 21 wherein said array of input optical fibers, said array of first output optical fibers and said array of second output optical fibers comprise two-dimensional arrays, and said switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units comprises a three-dimensional array.
 23. The optical switch system of claim 19 wherein each cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit comprises a first cholesteric liquid crystal cell arranged to receive incident light from an input optical fiber, said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell selectively reflecting circularly polarized light of one state of said incident light or transmitting said incident light responsive to a control signal; and a second cholesteric liquid crystal cell arranged with respect to said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell to receive light transmitted by said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell, said second cholesteric liquid crystal cell selected to reflect or transmit light from said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell responsive to said control signal when said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell reflects said circularly polarized light of said one state or transmits said incident light respectively.
 24. The optical switch system of claim 23 further comprising a π-phase waveplate element between said first and second cholesteric liquid crystal cells.
 25. The optical switch system of claim 24 wherein said π-phase waveplate element comprises a third liquid crystal cell.
 26. The optical switch system of claim 24 wherein said π-phase waveplate element comprises a plate of birefringent crystal.
 27. The optical switch system of claim 23 wherein said first cholesteric liquid crystal cell comprises a first cholesteric liquid crystal reflecting circularly polarized light in said one state, and said second cholesteric liquid crystal cell comprises a second cholesteric liquid crystal reflecting circularly polarized light in an opposite state.
 28. The optical switch system of claim 20 wherein said switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units comprises a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plates, each cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plate having at least a one-dimensional array of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units and arranged at an angle with respect to said array of input optical fibers and said array of first output optical fibers.
 29. The optical switch system of claim 28 wherein at least one of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell mounting plates has a two-dimensional array of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units.
 30. The optical switch system of claim 29 wherein said switching matrix comprises a plurality of separation plates, each separation plate separating two cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plates.
 31. The optical switch system of claim 30 wherein said switching matrix comprises said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units arranged in a cube.
 32. The optical switch system of claim 20 wherein each array of input optical fibers and first output optical fibers comprises a plurality of collimating GRIN lenses, each GRIN lens proximate ends of said input optical fibers and first output optical fibers.
 33. The optical switch system of claim 20 wherein each array of input optical fibers and first output optical fibers comprises a plurality of collimating microlenses, each microlens proximate ends of said input optical fibers and first output optical fibers.
 34. The optical switch system of claim 20 wherein each array of input optical fibers and first output optical fibers comprises a first plate having a surface with a plurality of V-grooves therein; and a second plate having a surface with a plurality of V-grooves therein, said second plate V-grooves matching said first plate V-grooves; said first and second plates fixed together so that said V-grooves form channels holding a linear array of optical fibers.
 35. The optical switch system of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of said first and second plates fixed together and arranged in a stack to form a two-dimensional array of optical fibers.
 36. The optical switch system of claim 22 wherein said switching matrix of cholesteric liquid crystal cell units comprises a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plates, each cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plate having at least a one-dimensional array of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units and arranged at an angle with respect to said array of input optical fibers, said array of first output optical fibers and said array of second output optical fibers.
 37. The optical switch system of claim 36 wherein at least one of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell mounting plates has a two-dimensional array of said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units.
 38. The optical switch system of claim 37 wherein said switching matrix comprises a plurality of separation plates, each separation plate separating two cholesteric liquid crystal cell unit mounting plates.
 39. The optical switch system of claim 38 wherein said switching matrix comprises said cholesteric liquid crystal cell units arranged in a cube.
 40. The optical switch system of claim 22 wherein each array of input optical fibers, first output optical fibers and second output optical fibers comprises a plurality of collimating GRIN lenses, each GRIN lens proximate ends of said input optical fibers, first output optical fibers and second output optical fibers.
 41. The optical switch system of claim 22 wherein each array of input optical fibers, first output optical fibers and second output optical fibers comprises a plurality of collimating microlenses, each microlens proximate ends of said input optical fibers, first output optical fibers and second output optical fibers.
 42. The optical switch system of claim 22 wherein each array of input optical fibers, first output optical fibers and second output optical fibers comprises a first plate having a surface with a plurality of V-grooves therein; and a second plate having a surface with a plurality of V-grooves therein, said second plate V-grooves matching said first plate V-grooves; said first and second plates fixed together so that said V-grooves form channels holding a linear array of optical fibers.
 43. The optical switch system of claim 42 further comprising a plurality of said first and second plates fixed together and arranged in a stack to form a two-dimensional array of optical fibers. 